Readout of Deputy Mayorkas' Trip to Texas

Release Date:

May 21, 2014

For Immediate ReleaseDHS Press OfficeContact: 202-282-8010

SAN ANTONIO, Texas— Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas today traveled to San Antonio, Texas where he delivered keynote remarks at the 86th Annual American Association of Airport Executives Conference and Exposition.

During his remarks, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas recognized the airline industry’s important role, working in close coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in implementing stronger and more effective international security measures to protect the traveling public. He also outlined steps the Department is taking to help bolster efforts to protect the aviation system while facilitating legitimate trade and travel that is essential of our economy.

On May 7, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas announced new openings for the Loaned Executive Program to provide top executive-level and subject matter experts from the private sector an opportunity to share their expertise with the Department. DHS will continue to partner with the nation’s top executives and industry experts to solve problems, improve processes, and fully realize its mission.

Deputy Secretary Mayorkas also highlighted the efforts of the Department to expedite travel while enhancing security through Trusted Traveler programs like Transportation Security Administration (TSA) TSA Pre✓™ and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry. Through the expedited screening program, TSA Pre✓™, pre-approved airline travelers can leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case and their 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carry-on in select screening lanes. TSA Pre✓™ operations are available at more than 100 airports nationwide. More than 20 million passengers have experienced TSA Pre✓™ since it launched in October 2011.

Additionally, the CBP Global Entry program streamlines CBP processing for trusted travelers through biometric identification and reduces average wait times by 70 percent, with more than 75 percent of travelers using Global Entry processed in less than a minute. More than 1.5 million trusted travelers now receive Global Entry benefits, and these travelers have used its automated kiosks to expedite their entry more than four million times since the program’s inception.

Following his remarks, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas traveled to Lackland Air Force Base. On May 14, Secretary of Health and Human Service (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius formally requested that the Department of Defense (DoD) allow use of DoD facilities to house up to 1,000 Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) for up to 120 days. DoD and HHS have identified facilities at Lackland Air Force Base to temporarily house UAC.